Victoria Cervesa

22 August 2019

The story of Victoria beer is closely tied to the history of the city of Malaga, Spain. "Malagueña y Exquisita", which means "From Malaga and Exquisite", is not just a slogan but also the philosophy of the beer from Malaga. The Cervezas Victoria story begins on the 8th of September 1928, the feast day of Santa Maria de la Victoria,...

Read on >

Soft Drinks Buyer's Pick...Story

16 August 2019

Kate, our Soft drinks buyer's pick of the month is a range of soft drinks from Story. The British brand, STORY was launched in 2011, when founder, Julian Sollom set out to develop a delicious range of feel-good soft drinks. Created in Devon, and using water filtered from the Jurassic Coast; the lightly sparkling, natural fruit pressés, are a blend...

Read on >

In the Doghouse

14 August 2019

Doghouse Distillery is an independent grain distillery located in Battersea, London. They have a full micro-brewery, 3 rectification columns (a total height of 21m) and a 1500 litre copper pot still. In the Doghouse, the team are pioneering 'grain to bottle' gin and vodka in London, being the first distillery in recent years to make gin from scratch, and...

Read on >

A Long History with London

12 August 2019

Based in the Herefordshire village of Much Marcle, Westons have a long family history of premium cider making with their roots going back to 1880. Five Weston generations have worked with like-minded colleagues in the pursuit of their passion: creating authentic ciders that people will love. It began in 1878 when Henry Weston began to produce ciders and perries, using...

Read on >

Spirits Pick this Month...Tarquin's Peach Ice Tea Liqueur

08 August 2019

Carlyn, our Spirits buyer's pick of the month is a summer liqueur from Tarquin's Distillery. It's 2012 and the UK's craft gin scene is beginning to bloom. Tarquin, supported by his sister Athene, sets his sights on establishing the first Cornish distillery in over 100 years. From day one ,Tarquin's distillery, perched high on-top of a windswept clifftop in North Cornwall,...

Read on >

Striking Combinations...Shotover Cask

06 August 2019

Shotover Brewing Company was founded in 2009 by Ed & Pip Murray in a 200 year old stable at Manor Farm in Horspath, just four miles from Carfax at the centre of Oxford, on the southern slope of Shotover Hill. Ed had been an amateur craft brewer for ove

Read on >

Thinking Differently

02 August 2019

Foolproof Brewery from Rhode Island, USA, think about beer a bit differently. To them, beer is not just an alcoholic beverage but an experience that should be thoroughly savored and enjoyed. That's why when they brew each beer, they think about specific life experiences and what style of beer would be absolutely perfect for that particular occasion. That's how they came up with the...

Read on >

Mixologist's Diary - Paul Minea, The Leafy Elephant

Founded in 2019 by the Duncan and his family, with aspirations of replicating the luxurious bars of Mayfair, London, The Leafy Elephant is a stunning new bar in Wokingham that is definitely "more than a pub!" With over 200 gins on their impressive back bar, this purpose built venue is all about the luscious experience (and it's not...

Read on >

The Perfect Addition to your Favourite Gin

30 July 2019

Luscombe are passionate about making fabulous drinks. They source premium organic ingredients from trusted growers around the world and produce their drinks locally in Devon. Their award-winning drinks are made without compromise. Using only the softest Devon spring water for a truly enhanced taste, Luscombe Drinks' award winning tonic water range offers the perfect addition to your favourite gin. The range...

Read on >

Inspired by Island Living

29 July 2019

Inspired by Hoxton life, Hoxton Spirits is an innovative lifestyle and spirits brand that embodies the cultrual powerhouse that is this pocket of East London. For the past 25 years, Hoxton has been the creative centre of London. It's the central link that unifies the infamously colourful Shoreditch, the racy streets of Dalston and the bohemian melting pot of Hackney....

Read on >

A Symphony of High Quality Ingredients

25 July 2019

Cygnet Gin doesn't try to be something that it's not, but what it is, without trying, is wonderful. Their master distiller has expertly blended herbs and spices individually selected and flown in from the farthest reaches of the Earth, in the same spirit that his forebears did before him. The finest grain spirit is infused with a symphony of...

Read on >

Sustainable, Recyclable, Biodegradable

25 July 2019

The first and only distillery on the Isle of Wight was licensed in 2014 by long term friends Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett. By combining a wealth of experience in brewing and wine-making with locally sourced ingredients they have created premium spirits that express the beauty and character of the Island they love. They create high quality, hand-crafted spirits for discerning and adventurous...

Read on >

Rich, Vibrant and Diverse

18 July 2019

Founded by Kadie Regan in 2017, Far Side Coffee was borne out of a desire to be able to swig really good cold brew here in the UK. With strong roots in America, they knew that cold brew could be rich, vibrant and diverse in flavour. The beans used in Far Side Brew derive from the Penachi region, and are produced under the...

Read on >

Forging Links Between Ancient Legends

15 July 2019

Theodore is an elegantly aromatic Scottish gin, powered by the spirit of the Picts, an ancient confederation of tribes that once settled near their home in Ardross, Northern Highlands. Theodore Gin represents a journey of curiosity, as the team forge links between ancient legends and the world we all live in today - not much is known about the Picts, but that sense of...

Read on >

Buyer's Pick This Month...Rock Rose

12 July 2019

Carlyn, our Spirits Drinks buyer's pick of the month is Rock Rose Gin from Dunnet Bay Distillery. Martin and Claire established Dunnet Bay Distillery, producers of Rock Rose gin, in 2014, along with their wee one-eyed dog George. The distillery was built in their home village of Dunnet, in the far north of Scotland, and after 55 experiments, the final recipe...

Read on >

New This Month...Barcelona Beer Company

11 July 2019

Michael, our Beers and Ciders buyer's pick of the month is the range from Barcelona Beer Company. Barcelona Beer Company began after founder Oriol took a trip to New York where he stumbled across craft beer. Inspired, and upon returning to Barcelona, Oriol convinced friends Carlos and David - who was a home brewer - to begin the brewery. Six years on, the Barcelona...

Read on >

Buyer's Pick this Month...Lixir Tonic

10 July 2019

Kate, our Soft Drinks buyer's pick of the month is the range from Lixir. Made by bartenders, Lixir produce an award winning range of all natural tonic waters that are bottled in the UK. Containing no artificial flavours, sweeteners, or added preservatives the range also has the additionally bonus of being low in calories. Designed to be paired with both white...

Read on >

A Staple of British Daily Life

09 July 2019

In a world where drinking water could be fatal, small beer was enjoyed in households, work places and even schools across the country. A staple of British daily life in the 1700's, it was traditionally always brewed between 0.5 - 2.8% ABV. With the provision of clean drinking water in the 19th century, the requirement for small beer passed and the art of its...

Read on >

Mixologist's Diary - Jonathan Benoliel, Vermuteria

26 June 2019

Vermuteria, next door to Kings Cross, is an all-day café and bar serving creative food and drinks inspired by the origins of Vermouth distilling, established during the 18th Century in the city of Turin, and the great Vermouth bars of Italy and beyond. This month's mixologist is Vermuteria's Head Barman, Jonathan Benoliel. A man who loves learning and is a...

Read on >

A Producer of Premium Presses and Sodas

05 July 2019

Lovely Drinks is a Bristol-based producer of premium presses and sodas. They seek out the very best ingredients to make their award-winning range, including handpicked elderflowers, whole lemons and pressed English fruits and flowers. As they like to keep things natural, they stay well clear of nasties such as preservatives and concentrates and use no artificial sweeteners, colourings or flavourings. Lovely...

Read on >

Behind the Scenes... Nigel picks an order!

14 May 2019

Our MD is on a quest, a journey to understand each area of our Nectar operation better. Recently, Nigel joined our Warehouse Manager Rich out on the floor to learn what happens when an order is picked and wrapped ready for delivery next day... he may well have picked your order! Why not grab a drink and watch this...

Read on >

GABOR MOLNAR... The Pig Hotel

16 April 2019

As they say, a dilapidated and overgrown walled kitchen garden, tucked away in the grounds of a tired country house hotel in the New Forest has a lot to answer for... and since 2011, this has led the way to inform everything The Pig does in the kitchen and mixology. For this Mixologist's Diary feature we caught up with...

Read on >

Meet the Producer... Rupert, Conker Spirits

24 April 2019

Conker Spirits began life as Rupert's dream to get out of the big smoke, today his range includes three delicious gins and a stunning cold brew coffee liqueur, all distilled in their Dorset distillery. Fast-forward 6 years, and it's clear the leap of faith was worth it. Meet Rupert in this short video as he (re) introduces his range to...

Read on >

Meet Alex, co-founder of Long Tail Mixers

25 March 2019

With a new selection of innovative drinks to our portfolio this spring, we invited a handful of our suppliers into HQ so our teams could meet them, understand more and taste their new drinks. Alex from Long Tail Mixers chatted to us about the experience and how Long Tail came about! Meet Alex in this short video and discover dark...

Read on >

Will Price, Mugshot

13 December 2018

Our Mixologist's Diary is back, and this edition we headed to bustling Brizzle to chat about two of our favourite topics - food and (of course) drink with Will Price from Mugshot as he prepares for the Christmas onslaught. If you've not been to Bristol in the last year you've missed this fantastic independent restaurant and bar with a...

Read on >

Mixologist Diary - Circo Bar

12 November 2018

Nestled within the cobbled streets of Bath, is an underground bar that offers a chic blend of the old and new; whilst fun takes centre stage in their mixology ethos. Circo Bar has one of the most extensive back bars, with a stunning array of cocktails on offer, as well as a comprehensive champagne, wine and spirits list, served...

Read on >

CAT DUERR, RAOULS BAR

With summer beaming at us from all angles, we chatted all things rum with Cat from Raoul's bar and caught up on what they're doing in Oxford, as part of our mixologist's diary. Established in 1979, Raoul's Bar and liquor store is a space for Cat and the team to create. This is where their passion for mixology...

Read on >

Gary Whiter, The Cabinet Rooms

It's common knowledge that the UK is enjoying a gin revival, with an unprecedented array of craft gins launching in the marketplace, since Sipsmiths sparked important changes in the world of distillation back in 2009. Around that time, Gary Whiter was about to embark on a Martini masterclass aboard the Queen Mary 2, while en route to New York. His...

Read on >

LLOYD BROWN, THE GREY BEAR BAR CO

This month we'd like you to meet Lloyd Brown, who heads up the Grey Bear Bar company, a bar consultancy and training company as well as being brand ambassador and distiller for Porters Perfection vodka (he's a busy man!). Having worked with us closely for nearly a decade, and previously run the Venner Bar at The Bull Hotel in Bridport...

Read on >

Elliott Skehel, Lab 22

In the heart of Cardiff is Lab 22, a unique venue offering a truly scientific approach to your sense of mixology enjoyment. Sleek and chic yet abundant in character, Lab 22 is the place where real magic happens. A place where elements collide and senses come alive. Lab 22 encourages the extraordinary and encourages the unusual. A creative cocktail bar...

Read on >

Hannah Wainright, The Treehouse

This August we're heading over to Beaconsfield to meet Hannah Wainwright of The Treehouse and Laurie Othen who have 'talked all things tequila' with us. The Treehouse was first established in 2010 and is part of Drinkwell Bars, a small bar group in the Chilterns. The Treehouse specialises in fantastic cocktails, a proportion of which are made with products made...

Read on >